Spanish startup Aviationweek announced on August 4, 2026, plans to launch the first very low Earth orbit (VLEO) demonstration of its air-breathing electric propulsion (ABEP) system. The mission will utilize a Kongsberg NanoAvionics microsatellite bus to test propulsion technology designed to sustain satellites at altitudes of approximately 200 kilometers.
Traditional satellites at these altitudes face immense aerodynamic drag, which usually requires massive amounts of fuel to counteract. This creates a paradox: the fuel needed to stay in orbit often makes the satellite too heavy to launch efficiently, or the fuel runs out too quickly for the mission to be commercially viable.
Kreios Space aims to break this cycle by using the atmosphere itself as a fuel source. Their ABEP technology is designed to collect atmospheric gases, including oxygen and nitrogen, and use them as propellant for electric thrusters.
The NanoAvionics MP42 Mission Architecture
To move from theory to orbit, Kreios has partnered with Kongsberg NanoAvionics. The startup will use the MP42 microsatellite bus, which NanoAvionics will customize to meet specific mission requirements. This partnership includes the integration of an optical payload, system testing, and platform commissioning before Kreios assumes operational control.
The mission is not merely a propulsion test. Once in VLEO, the spacecraft will capture sub-meter resolution images in the visible and near-infrared spectral range and take environmental measurements to validate the ABEP thruster’s performance.
Overcoming the Propulsion Paradox
The fundamental problem with VLEO is that the altitude is so low that satellites effectively “fly” through a thin layer of gas. For standard electric propulsion, this means carrying heavy propellant tanks that limit the mission’s lifespan.
“Traditional electric propulsion systems would require large quantities of propellant to remain in orbit, which makes either the lifetime of the satellite too short for commercial missions or the mass of propellant to carry onboard too heavy to make sense,” said Adrián Senar, CEO of Kreios Space.
By harvesting propellant from the air, Kreios argues that altitude can be sustained without requiring any propellant on board. This would allow long-term missions at 200 kilometers to operate at costs comparable to those of satellites orbiting at 500 kilometers.
Strategic Funding and NATO Involvement
The technical ambition is backed by significant financial and strategic support. In September 2025, Kreios closed an €8 million ($9.21 million) seed round, following an earlier raise in 2024, bringing the company’s total investment to millions of euros.
The interest from NATO extends beyond capital. The startup was selected to join the 2026 Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), signaling the perceived security and strategic value of VLEO capabilities.
The Global Race for VLEO Dominance
Kreios is not alone in this pursuit. The ability to operate closer to Earth provides a massive advantage for high-resolution Earth observation and low-latency communications. Currently, two experimental Chinese satellites are already operating at altitudes below 300 kilometers.
Other entities developing ABEP systems include the European Space Agency Propulsion Laboratory, the Indian startup Orbitt Space, and Viridian Space Corp. Because the technical barrier is so high, the first company to successfully prove a mission will likely set the standard for the industry.
Timeline for Orbital Validation
While CEO Adrián Senar declined to comment on the specific timing of the upcoming flight during an interview with SpaceNews, the company’s own documentation provides a roadmap. Kreios plans to execute the first ABEP-based VLEO mission in 2027, with a second flight scheduled for 2028.
The stakes for Kreios are high: they are attempting to turn the very atmospheric drag that kills most satellites into the fuel that keeps them alive. If the 2027 mission succeeds, the economic model for Earth observation will shift from managing propellant mass to managing atmospheric intake.
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